Vinedos Hermanos Hernaiz is not only an excellent winery in the Rioja region, it also takes you on a journey back into the history and origins of this famous region and beyond. The estate, known collectively as Finca La Emperatriz, belonged to Eugenia de Montijo, the last Empress of France, in the 19th century. Her husband, Napoleon III, is considered to be the originator of the Bordeaux classification of 1855, which is still valid today despite controversial points and exerts a significant influence on the pricing of top Bordeaux wines. And to this day, wine is produced on the estate according to the Bordeaux chateau principle, a principle that even today's bodegas such as Remelluri have adopted. Since 1996, the brothers Eduardo and Victor Hernaiz have been the owners of the proud winery, who also gave it their name. Vinedos Hermanos Hernaiz is located in the east of Rioja, close to the border with the province of Burgos and only around 12 kilometers from the picturesque town of Haro. Twenty two different parcels, planted at the highest points of the Rioja Alta, are spread over around 100 hectares of vineyards. The terroir consists of a pebbly terroir that drains well. The climate is cool, continental and dry, which gives the wines a lively freshness. Production is based on two pillars: on the one hand, classic Rioja wines, both white and red, produced from different parcels of land on the estate and with a more modern style. On the other hand, the finca wines are intended to express the terroir of the region, for which primarily only grapes from very old vines are used. These wines are rich in finesse, complex and at the same time very elegant and have primarily contributed to the renowned reputation that precedes the wines of Hermanos Hernaiz. A tasting is always worthwhile.
